Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt to a large bowl and whisk together.
3. Add the cubed, cold butter to the flour mixture. Cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, two forks or your fingers. The flour should look like crumbly sand when you’re done. I like to go through with my fingers at the end to make sure there aren’t any large pieces of butter. Stir in the raisins (if using).
4. Whisk the egg together with the buttermilk and then pour into the bowl over the dry ingredients. Stir together until a crumbly dough forms.
5. Lightly dust a board with flour and then turn the dough out onto the board. Knead the dough a few times just to bring the dough together. Form the dough into a round, shallow loaf and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
6. Cut an “X” into the top of the dough (see post for photos) and then brush the top with the melted butter.
7. Place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Check the bread: if the loaf is getting too brown, place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the top. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until the center of the bread is cooked through.
8. Let the soda bread cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.